Just in time for the release of her fifth studio album, We Are Born, Australian songbird Sia Furler has teamed up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Australia for a feisty new ad urging animal lovers to make sure that dogs and cats aren’t born only to end up homeless.

Here’s PETA’s run-down on the campaign:

The ad is part of PETA’s Animal Birth Control campaign. Not only does desexing prevent dogs from having “oops” litters, it reduces or eliminates their risk of developing cancer. In six years, one unfixed dog and her offspring can produce 60,000 puppies. Every year, countless dogs and cats are dumped at severely crowded animal shelters, where many of them must be euthanised. The less fortunate ones never even make it to a safe haven – they are left to fend for themselves on the streets, where they often suffer from cruelty, starvation, diseases or injuries.

“When it comes to fighting the cat and dog overpopulation crisis, a stitch in time truly does save nine – or 9,000 – unwanted births”, says PETA Australia’s director of campaigns, Jason Baker. “No one should bring more animals into the world when countless cats and dogs are literally dying for a good home.”

PETA advises prospective guardians to adopt cats and dogs from animal shelters – never to buy them from pet shops or breeders – and to spay or neuter animal companions as soon as they are old enough.

Furler – who is a vegetarian – won Best Music DVD at the 2009 ARIA Awards, and her album Some People Have Real Problems was nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist Album. She has two rescued canine companions who accompany her on tour, and she even arranges her travel schedule around their walks.